Synopsis While investigating the cause of a partial loss of electrical power, the owner/operator of the MONIKA sustained serious leg injuries when his clothing caught in the propeller shaft coupling. Search and rescue efforts and evacuation of the victim were delayed due to poor weather conditions and unforeseen circumstances. The Board determined that the owner/operator's leg injuries were sustained because of the absence of a guard over an exposed section of the propeller shaft in way of the access to the engine compartment. 1.0 Factual Information 1.1 Particulars of the Vessel 1.1.1 Description of the Vessel The MONIKA is an aluminium fishing vessel with wheel-house and accommodation forward, the engine compartment amidships and a fish hold aft. The below-deck arrangement follows the V shape of the hull. The engine is mounted fore-and-aft, amidships. There is no deck plating in the spaces. Entry into the compartment is through a hatch located abaft the wheel-house. There is no artificial lighting installed in the compartment. The vessel's electrical supply batteries are stowed in the engine compartment, beneath the after part of the hatch coaming. At the time of the occurrence, a section of the propeller shaft between the reduction gearbox and the stern tube was exposed. The coupling at the gearbox end is secured with projecting hexagonal nuts (see Appendix A). 1.2 History of the Voyage On the evening of 22 October 1993, the MONIKA was southbound in Fitz Hugh Sound en route to Port Hardy, B.C. (see sketch at Appendix B). At 20503, the vessel's electrical power was observed to diminish. The owner/operator handed over the conduct of the vessel to the mate and went to the engine compartment to check the electrical system. He opened the deck hatch to the engine compartment and lowered himself onto the plating on the starboard side of the engine. He was wearing running shoes. After checking the batteries, he turned to raise himself out through the hatch. His foot slipped on the smooth, oily surface. The right leg of his trousers became entangled in the turning coupling of the unguarded propeller shaft, causing serious leg injuries and extensive bleeding. Through the open wheel-house door, the mate heard the owner/operator shouting. Realizing that there was something wrong, the mate declutched the propeller shaft and shut down the engine. After assisting the injured owner/operator out through the hatch and onto the deck, he applied a tourniquet to his leg. He then notified Alert Bay Coast Guard Radio Station (CGRS) of the accident. A request for medical assistance was forwarded to the Rescue Co-ordination Centre (RCC) at Victoria, B.C. The position of the MONIKA was latitude 5130'18 N, longitude 12752'12 W, approximately 4.6 miles north of Clark Point, Calvert Island, B.C. 1.3 Search and Rescue Mission The CCGS PORT HARDY monitored the original message to CGRS Alert Bay at 2053 and, at 2110, advised the RCC that the vessel was ready to depart with the Fast Rescue Craft (FRC) in tow. The RCC, however, advised the PORT HARDY that two ambulance attendants from the British Columbia Emergency Health Services (EHS) at Port Hardy would be accompanying them on the mission and that they should await their arrival before departing for the MONIKA. The PORT HARDY was under way at 2150. The Canadian tug SEASPAN CHALLENGER, with a loaded log barge of 7,761 gross registered tons (GRT) in tow, was in the immediate vicinity of the MONIKA. A rendezvous at Clark Point was arranged and, at 2249, the injured man was transferred from the MONIKA to the SEASPAN CHALLENGER. The tug proceeded on a southerly course across the Queen Charlotte Strait, B.C. At 2345, the FRC from the PORT HARDY departed for a rendezvous with the SEASPAN CHALLENGER to transfer the EHS attendants to the tug. Inclement weather conditions prevented the transfer and the FRC returned to the PORT HARDY. At 0404, 23 October, when the PORT HARDY and the SEASPAN CHALLENGER were in sheltered waters, an EHS attendant and a Canadian Coast Guard (CCG) crew member trained in first aid were transferred to the SEASPAN CHALLENGER. While both vessels were en route to sheltered waters, the SEASPAN CHALLENGER had had to reduce speed to allow the PORT HARDY to maintain station. After boarding the tug, the medical team made the victim as comfortable as possible and prepared him for transfer to the PORT HARDY. The CCG member of the medical team gave analgesic gas to the victim to lessen his pain. The victim was transferred to the PORT HARDY at 0536. Upon arrival at the Port Hardy Base at 0618, the victim was taken to the hospital by ambulance. 1.3.1 Search and Rescue Vessel Normally, the 50 m-long CCGS GORDON REID would have been in the Queen Charlotte Strait area but the vessel was undergoing refit in Victoria. Consequently, the Search and Rescue (SAR) task was left to the shallow-draught, 13 m-long lifeboat PORT HARDY. This vessel's maximum speed is 10 knots in fine weather conditions. 1.3.2 Search and Rescue Aircraft Although a helicopter at Canadian Forces Base (CFB) Comox was on stand-by, inclement weather conditions precluded its involvement in the SAR mission. 1.3.3Emergency Response Agencies The EHS provides emergency health care for the province of British Columbia, including the inland lakes and the sheltered waters of the coastal area. Depending on the level of training they have received, some EHS employees may initiate and administer intravenous fluids and/or Entonox gas. The EHS attendants who transferred to the SEASPAN CHALLENGER were not trained to administer Entonox, the analgesic gas which was indicated in this case. CCG SAR personnel have received such training. 1.4 Injuries to Persons The owner/operator of the MONIKA suffered compound fractures to the tibia and fibula of his right leg. 1.5 Certification 1.5.1 Vessel The MONIKA, being less than 15 gross tons, was not subject to inspection by the Ship Safety Branch of the CCG. She carried the necessary life-saving equipment required by regulation. 1.5.2 Personnel The owner/operator holds a Polish Fourth Class Certificate of Competency in marine engineering. 1.6 Personnel History The owner/operator served for two years as an engineer in the Polish Navy. He then served for eight years in that country's fishing fleet. He has been fishing in Canadian waters since 1985 and has owned his own vessel since 1987. 1.7 Weather Information Because of changes in the topographical features between Calvert Island and Port Hardy, weather conditions may differ substantially from one reporting station to another. At the time and place of the accident, the conditions were westerly winds of 15 knots with a low westerly swell and a sea height of 0.45 m. At 2345, the PORT HARDY reported conditions at Pine Island, B.C., as winds south-easterly, 10 to 15 knots, with a low westerly swell. At 0046, the SEASPAN CHALLENGER was three miles south of Egg Island, B.C., and reported weather conditions as south-easterly winds, 25 to 35 knots, 3 to 3.5 m westerly swell and an opposing 1.5 m sea from the south-east. Reports received by the RCC from various weather reporting stations in the same area indicated similar conditions.